Content Area(s): Life Science; Earth and Space Science Topic: Extraterrestrial Life in the Solar System Short description: As long as there is liquid water, organic molecules, and a source of energy, life could exist anywhere in the universe.
Claim: Life forms might be found living in extremely harsh conditions within the solar system.
Keywords: extremophile, microbes, life in outer space Difficulty of Concept: hard
MS-LS1 From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
MS-LS1-4. Use argument based on empirical evidence and scientific reasoning to support an explanation for how characteristic animal behaviors and specialized plant structures affect the probability of successful reproduction of animals and plants respectively.
MS-LS1-5. Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how environmental and genetic factors influence the growth of organisms.
MS-LS2 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
MS-LS2-1. Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for the effects of resource availability on organisms and populations of organisms in an ecosystem.
Common Core State Standards Connections:
ELA/Literacy
RST.6-8.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts, attending to the precise details of explanations descriptions.
RST.6-8.8 Distinguish among facts and reasoned judgment based on research findings, and speculation in a text.
WHST.6-8.1 Write arguments focused on discipline-specific content.
WHST.6-8.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.
WHST.6-8.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational text to support analysis, reflection and research.
SL.8.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions(one-on-one, in groups, teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
The only evidence of life ever found has been right here on planet Earth. Yet it is likely that we are not the only source of life in our solar system. Life has been found in almost every possible environment on Earth. The life forms that inhabit the most extreme environments are called “extremophiles." These extremophiles are usually microbes that live in conditions that would kill most other organisms. Extremophiles have been found in environments of extreme temperatures; as high as 115oC and as low as -20oC; extreme pH, very strong acids to very strong alkalinity; saturated salt condition and under very high pressure. It also appears that some microbes can remain in a dormant state for thousands of years before being revived.
Astrobiologists contend that if microbes can thrive in such extreme condition on Earth then they could also emerge elsewhere in the solar system with similar conditions. Dr. George Wald established that the only requirements for life seem to be the availability of liquid water, sources of energy, and a reasonable supply of organic molecules. Here on Earth it seems that wherever there is water, there is a good chance of finding living organisms. Water is also known to exist in many places in our solar system. Scientist have found organic molecules on Halley’s comet and scattered elsewhere throughout the solar system. The strong gravitational pull of Jupiter and Saturn can provide an energy source for satellites very far away from our sun. With this in mind, the most promising environments for life in our solar system are probably Mars, Europa, Titan, and Enceladus. It is also possible that life outside of Earth is so fundamentally different that existence in even more extreme environments is possible.
Seymour Simon's Extreme Earth Records, by Seymour Simon. (Seymour Simon's Extreme Earth Records provides information about places on Earth where extreme conditions exist. The information is excellent and very informative with high quality photos and colorful pages which draws the reader in and keeps interest.)
Title: Are We Alone?
Content Area(s): Life Science; Earth and Space ScienceTopic: Extraterrestrial Life in the Solar System
Short description: As long as there is liquid water, organic molecules, and a source of energy, life could exist anywhere in the universe.
Claim: Life forms might be found living in extremely harsh conditions within the solar system.
Keywords: extremophile, microbes, life in outer space
Difficulty of Concept: hard
Reading Level (Pit Stop 8 Article):
Flesch Reading Ease: 50.4Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 10.1
Lexile: 1120
Next Generation Science Standards:
MS-LS1 From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and ProcessesMS-LS1-4. Use argument based on empirical evidence and scientific reasoning to support an explanation for how characteristic animal behaviors and specialized plant structures affect the probability of successful reproduction of animals and plants respectively.
MS-LS1-5. Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how environmental and genetic factors influence the growth of organisms.
MS-LS2 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
MS-LS2-1. Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for the effects of resource availability on organisms and populations of organisms in an ecosystem.
Common Core State Standards Connections:
ELA/LiteracyRST.6-8.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts, attending to the precise details of explanations descriptions.
RST.6-8.8 Distinguish among facts and reasoned judgment based on research findings, and speculation in a text.
WHST.6-8.1 Write arguments focused on discipline-specific content.
WHST.6-8.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.
WHST.6-8.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational text to support analysis, reflection and research.
SL.8.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions(one-on-one, in groups, teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
Vocabulary Words: dormant, salinity, astrobiologist, saturated, acid, alkalinity, pH, organic molecule
Topic of Game Introduction Video: Withholding Judgment
Link to Game Introduction Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr0kTo4xj9s
Full Text of Article:
The only evidence of life ever found has been right here on planet Earth. Yet it is likely that we are not the only source of life in our solar system. Life has been found in almost every possible environment on Earth. The life forms that inhabit the most extreme environments are called “extremophiles." These extremophiles are usually microbes that live in conditions that would kill most other organisms. Extremophiles have been found in environments of extreme temperatures; as high as 115oC and as low as -20oC; extreme pH, very strong acids to very strong alkalinity; saturated salt condition and under very high pressure. It also appears that some microbes can remain in a dormant state for thousands of years before being revived.Astrobiologists contend that if microbes can thrive in such extreme condition on Earth then they could also emerge elsewhere in the solar system with similar conditions. Dr. George Wald established that the only requirements for life seem to be the availability of liquid water, sources of energy, and a reasonable supply of organic molecules. Here on Earth it seems that wherever there is water, there is a good chance of finding living organisms. Water is also known to exist in many places in our solar system. Scientist have found organic molecules on Halley’s comet and scattered elsewhere throughout the solar system. The strong gravitational pull of Jupiter and Saturn can provide an energy source for satellites very far away from our sun. With this in mind, the most promising environments for life in our solar system are probably Mars, Europa, Titan, and Enceladus. It is also possible that life outside of Earth is so fundamentally different that existence in even more extreme environments is possible.
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Additional Content:
Author: Cindy Wilbur